Packing element



C. S. CRICKMER El AL Dec. 26, 1939.

PACKING ELEMENT Filed Sept. 17, 1937 Charles $.Cr1ckmer QoL A. LambPatented Dec. 26, 1939 [2,184,634 PACKING'ELEMENT Charles S. ,Crlckmerand Roy A. Lamb, Dallas, Tex., assignors to- Mei-la Tool Company,Dallas, Tex., a firm of Texas Application September 1'), i937, SerialNo. 164,384

LCIalmB.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in packingelements. This invention is an improvement of our copending applicationfiled November 5, 1936, Serial 5 No. 109,264, nowPatent No. 2,132,723,granted October 11, 1938. 'f

One object of the invention is to provide an improved packing element,adapted to be used on a well packer or other device, which will effec-'tively seal oil the annular space between the well casing and the welltubing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved packingelement having a continuous helical reinforcing member molded, orotherwise secured, therein, whereby when the element is distorted, themember acts to displace the outer periphery of the element into a seriesof super-imposed bulges or protuberances, whereby the packing eflect ofa plurality of super-iniposed individual packing members is obtained. Afurther object 01' the invention is to provide an improved packingelement which is provided with a continuous resilient member moldedtherein, which not only reinforces the element butalso aids in returningthe element toa normal undistorted position after the same has beenmoved to a packing position, whereby the inherent elasticity of theelement is not solely depended upon to return said element to suchnormal position.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and l which an example of the invention isshown,

and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of apacking element constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse, sectional view of the element in its distortedposition, and

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the helical reinforcing element.

In the drawing, the numeral Hi designates an elongate tubular mandrelwhich is adapted to be connected in a tubing string or other support(not shown), so as to be lowered therewith into a well casing A. Theinvention is applicable to shown as mounted on the mandrel of a wellpacker. the mandrel, and the usual rippin slips (not shown) are slidableon this head. When the slips are engaged with the wall of the casing,the head by reference to the accompanying drawing, in

any device, but for purposes of description it is- The usual slip headHis slldable onv 7 II is held stationary and the mandrel may-slidetherethrough. The slips have not been shown, as they form no part oftheinvention, and any suitable means may be employed for locking the vhead in a fixed position in the casing. f

A supporting thimble I2 is slidably mounted on the mandrel IO'above theslip head II, and rests on the upper end thereof. The thimble isrecessed at its upper end to form a peripheral flange l3. An elasticpacking element It, formed of rubber, Duprene, or any other suitableelastic material, surrounds the mandrel above the thimble l2 and has itsreduced lower end disposed within the recess in the thimble and confinedbetween the flange l3 and the mandrel. A flanged confining cap orinverted thimble l5 engages the reduced upper end of the packingelement, whereby the element is mounted on the mandrel between the capl5 and the thimble H. A retaining collar 46 is secured to the mandrelvabove the confining cap 15 in some suitable manner, as by screw threads,whereby said ,cap is held inconstant engagement with the upper end ofthe packing element. a

A continuous, metallic, reinforcing member I1 is molded, or otherwisesuitablymounted within the packing element, and is placed so that itencircles the mandrel and has its inner periphery engaging the mandrelwhile its outer periphery terminates short of the outer peripheryof thepacking element. The member may be made of flat, ribbon-like metal inthe form of a helical spring and may have a plurality. of perforationsl8 extending entirely therethrough. It is obvi- ,-ous that the materialof which the packing element is constructed passes through theseopenings, whereby the member is rigidly aflixedwithin the element. Theseperforations may or may not be used.- Since the member encircles themandrel Ill it will be seen that it tends to hold the packing element inengagement with the mandrel. Although the inner edge or periphery of themember is shown engaging the mandrel it may, if d sired, bo -spacedslightly therefrom, whereby the tire member would be completely andwholly embedded in the packing element.

when the device has been lowered into position; within the well casing,with the packing element in its normal or undistorted position, as shownin Figure 1, the slips (not shown) are moved into gripping engagementwith the wall of the casing, thereby holding the slip head llstationary. Since the thimble I2 "is supported on the slip head, itwillalso remain stationary, while the mandrel II, which is slidable throughboth the mandrel.

thimble l2 and the slip head I i, may move vertically. As the mandrel ismoved downwardly, the retaining collar l6 being fixed to the mandrelmoves downwardly therewith and also moves the confining cap 65downwardly.

The downward movement of the cap it toward the stationary thimble i2distorts the packing element It therebetween, and since the coils of themetallic element ll, molded within the element, are compressed therewithinto closer proximity to each other, the element is distorted betweeneach coil into annular protuberances or bulges I9 (Figure 2). mentimmediately adjacent the periphery of the reinforcing element will beheld in substantially its normal undistorted position by the elementbecause it is firmly affixed or molded to the ring.

The distortion of the packing member causes the same to move intoengagement with the wall of the well casing, whereby a seal is formedbetween said casing and the mandreL It is noted that the protuberancesformed by distortion of the element have substantially the same sealingeffect as a series of super-imposed individual packing rings, yet theelement is formed in a single piece and retains the strength anddurability of a one-piece packing element. It is further noted that,since the packing element is firmly affixed to the metallic reinforcingmember I7, and extends through the openings l8 therein, said member actsto hold the element in engagement with the mandrel, whereby said elementis prevented from being stripped oif the It is also noted that theprovision of the spaced coils of the member I! within the element serveto reinforce the same throughout the length thereof, whereby the elementis strengthened and made more rigid. Also, distortion of the elementbeyond the elastic limit of its material is substantially eliminatedby'the member, which retains thosc'portions of the element securedthereto in a fixed position with relation to the mandrel.

It is pointed out that the reinforcing memberw ii may be made of anysuitable material since the member would act todisplace the outerperiphery of the packing element into a series of super-imposed bulgesor protuberances. However, it is noted that the reinforced .member mayspring steel member would aid in returning the That portion of theelepacking element to a normal undistorted position. Under certain wellconditions the outer surface of the packing element tends to adhere orstick to the inner wall of the casing. Under such conditions the springreinforcing element would be a material aid in loosening the packer andin returning the element to an undistorted position. Thus the inherentelasticity of the element is not relied'on alone to accomplish thisreturning of the packing element to a normal position, but saidelasticity is supplemented and aided by the tendency of the springmember to expand when the packer is released. I

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

.1. A packing element including, an annular elastic body, and a helicalreinforcing member embedded within said body, said member having aplurality of perforations extending therethrough whereby said member ismore firmly attached to the annular body.

2. A packing element including, an annular elastic body, and a helicalreinforcing member embedded within said body, said member being formedof spring steel and having a plurality of perforations extendingtherethrou'gh whereby said member is more firmly attached to the annularbody.

3. A packing element including, a cylindrical elastic body having a boreextending therethrough,-and a helical resilient reinforcing memberembedded within the body and having fiat convolutions with the inneredge of each convolution being exposed within the bore, whereby when thebody is engaged around an element said edges contact said element.

4. A packing element including, a cylindrical elastic body having a boreextending theretlirough, and a helical resilient reinforcing memberembedded within the body and having fiat convolutions with the inneredge of each convolution being exposed within the bore, whereby when thebody is engaged around an element said edges contact said element,theouter edges of the convolutions being spaced inwardly a suflicientdistance to provide a substantial body of elastic material between saidouter edges and the outer surface of the elastic body, whereby an outerlayer of elastic material of substantial thickness surrounds saidreinforcing member and. may yield inwardly independently of said CHARLESS. CRICKMER. ROY A. LAW.

